Automatic record-centering mechanism for player pianos



H. PIERCE. AUTOMATIC RECORD CENTERING MECHANISM FOR PLAYER PIANOS- APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5, l9l8.

. 1,403,625. Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET Harry Pierc e H. PIERCE. AUTOMATIC moan cernsame MECHANISM FOR PLAYER mnos.

\ APPLICATION FILED JAN 5. 198- 1,403,625. 1 Patented Jan. 17, 19 22.

34 a3 so 12 I I 7 III: I 1 A I --r L 1 3 L27 g1: 4

J, l H 32 H. PIERCE. ALLTOMATIC RECORD CENTERING MECHANISM FOR PLAYER PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 5,1918.

1,403,625. Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Harry Pierce.

' attolmq UNITED STATES HARRY PIERCE, or

PATENT OFFICE.

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK A.

BRIGGS. OF OAKLAND. CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC RECORD-CENTERING MECHANISM FOR .TBLAYER PIANOS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

Application filed January 5, 1918. Serial No. 210,490.

T all whom it vii-(6y concern:

This invention is an improved automatic record centering mechanism for player pianos adapted to center any record regardless of whether it is shrunken or swollen so that it will atall times track perfectly; and adapted to lock the record spool posi-- tively against axial movement on the rewind so that the record may be rewound without tearing its edges.

In this specification and the annexed drawings, 1 illustrate my invention in the form which I consider the best, but I do not limit my invention to such form .because it may be embodied in other forms and it is'to be understood that in and by the claims following the description herein I intend to cover this invention in whatever form it. may be embodied.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of player piano tracker box embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the same.

Figure 3 is aplan view of my improved centering device including the regulating pneumatic and valve.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the centering device including the regulating pneumatic and valve.

Figure 5 is a side view on an enlarged scale of one of the centering triggers.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the end of one of the pneumatic exhaust tubes.

Figure 7 is a sectional view of a regulatingvalve for my invention. v

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the regulating pneumatic.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view of the regulating pneumatic.

Figure 10 is a side view of the same, illustrating the locking means. 7 y

In the drawing 1 indicates a player piano tracker box including a frame 2 in which is mounted the tracker bar 3 and in which are journaled the record winding spool t and the spindles 5 and 6 for holding the record spool 7. On the winding spool shaft 8 is secured a gear 9 adapted to mesh Be it known that I. HARRY PIERCE, citi-.

chamber 39 .in said valve chest.

with a pinion 1O slidably keyed on a. shaft 11 suitably journaled in bearing 12 in the player piano. On the end of the shaft 11 is secured a sprocket 13 over which travels a chain 14 which also travels Over a sprocket 15 on a shaft 16 driven by a suitable motor (not shown). On the shaft 11 is loosely mounted a sprocket 17 and a sprocket 18 is secured on the spindle 5, over which sprockets travels a chain 19. A lever 20, pivoted on a bracket on the tracker box frame 2, actuates the pinion 10 and a clutch 21 whereby the pinion is shifted into and out of engagement with the gear 9 and the sprocket 17 is clutched to the shaft 11 and unclutched therefrom. When the pinion 10 is shifted into mesh with gear 9 the record winding spool is rotated, by the motor, through the medium of shaft 16, sprocket 15, chain 14, sprocket 13, shaft 11, pinion 10, gear 9 and shaft 8, to wind up the record on the spool across the tracker board, and the sprocket 17 is unclutched from the shaft 11 to prevent operation of the record spool 7 through the medium of said sprocket, chain 19 and sprocket 18, and to allow the spool 7 to rotate freely to allow the record to be unwound therefrom across the tracker-board and wound upon the spool 4. On the tracker board 3 are pivoted a pair of valve carrying levers 25 and 26 on which are pivoted respectively a pair of V trigger valves 27 and 28, said levers being pivoted in such position that the trigger valves engage the edges of the record 30 as it passes over the tracker board.

The trigger valves 27 and 28 control the ends of tubes 31 and 32 respectively. A pair of regulating pneumatics 33 and are mounted by brackets 35 on the tracker box frame 2. A valve chest 36 is mounted below said pneumatics. The tube 31 leads into the pneumatic 33 and a tube 37 leads from the-tube 31 into a chamber 38 in the valve chest 36. The tube 32 leads into a The chest 36 is also formed with a chamber 40 from which a tube 11 leads to the pneumatic 34. An exhaust tube leads from the reserve (not shown). Said exhaust tube connects with a tube 46, leading into a chamber 4-7 in chest 36, and with tubes 48 and 49 leading respectively into pneumatics 33 and 34. A port 50 leads from the chest chamber 3:) into the chamber 40, which port is controlledby a valve 51. The stem 52 of said valve extends through thewall between the chambers and 47 into the chamber 47 and has a head 53 on its extremity for engaging a pouch 54 forming the dividing wall between the chambers 47. and 38.

A pouch '55 extends across the opening in thewall between the chambers 40 and 47 through which. the valve stem 52 extends and is secured tightly around said valve stem, said pouch preventing leakage from one chamber to the other through said opening. To the movable member of the pneu- A rod is-connected at one-end to the movable member of pneumatic 34 and at its other end to alever 66 pivoted at 67 to the V tracker board 3. A link 68 connects thetrigger valve lever 25 and the lever 66. A link 69 connects the trigger valve'lever 26 and the lever 66. The links 68 and 69 are connected to the lever 66 at opposite sides of the pivot 67 of lever 66. A spring 70 connects to the lever 66 and to the frame 2 and tends to swing the lever 66 so as to swing the ends of the'trigger valves 27 and 28 away from i the edges of the record 30. The ends of the'tubes 48 and 49 which lead into the pneumatics 33 and 34 are provided 'with small vents which establish communication between said tubes and the respective pneumatics into which they lead. V

In the partition wall between the pneumatics 33 and 34 within a recess 81 in said wall is mounted a lock pneumatic 85 which communicates through tube 86 with exhaust tube 48. A pawlx87 is connected to the movable member of the lock pneumatic 85 and extends through a slot in the wall 80 for engaging a ratchet 90 pivoted to the movable member of the pneumatic 33' Said ratchet isprovided with a slot 91 into which projectsa pin 92 secured in the wall 86,-said v pin and slot maintaining said ratchet in en: gaging position for the pawl 87. A bleed hole leads from vacuum chamber-47 to air chamber 38. g

The operation of myinvention is as follows: v

The edges of therecord 30 pass over the tracker board 3 between the trigger valves 27 and28. Under perfect operating conditions of the record, its edges engage the trigger valves 27 and 28 and open them slightly. A small amount of air is admitted by valve 27 through tube 31' into pneumatic]- 33 and through tubes 31 and 37 Into the chest chamber: 38. The air admitted into said chamber raises pouch 54 slightly and opens valve 51 slightly.- A small amount or 70 air is admitted by valve 28 through tube- .32 into chest chamber 39, through port .50

and 34 begin to collapse, the air being shut ofi from pneumatic 34 by the closing of valve 51, and the opening of trigger valve 28 having no eliect. The rod 60 is moved to the right by the pneumatic 33 and the record 30 is shifted to the left through the medium of lever 61 and Spindle 5, while at the same time the engagingends of the trigger valves 27 and 28 are swung towards each other through the medium of rod 65, lever 66 and rods" 68 and 69, and the edges of'the recorclengage and open both trigger valves 27 and 28. As the trigger valves are thus opened and the record shifts to the left back into alignment with the tracker board, air enters and expands the pneumatics- 33 and '34; the air entering pneumatic 33through tube 31 and the air entering pneumatic 34 through tube 32, chamber 39,-port 50, cham- 100 ber 40 and'tube 41, the valve 51 being opened by the air passing from tube 31 through tube 37, into the chamber 38. The expanding of the pneumatics 34 allows spring 70 to swing the engaging ends or" the trigger valves away from each other through the medium of lever 66 and links 68 and 69, whereby the trigger valves are brought to their normal position and the record back into alignment with the tracker board, and 11 the pneumatic balance is re-established in the pneumatics 33 and 34. Y

If the record shifts tothe left, the trigger valve 27 opens wider and the'trigger valve 28 closes, under which conditions pneumatic 33-expands and pneumatic 34 collapses, whereupon the recordis shifted to the right by spring 63 and atthe same time both trigger valves are swung towards each other through the medium of rod 65, lever 66, and rods 68 and 69 and the trigger valve 28 is engaged and opened by theedge of the record, the trigger valve 27 also being held open by the edge of the record. Air then enters pneumatic 34'through tube 32, cham- 12:,-

her 39, port 50 (the valve 51 being open by the air admitted through open trigger valve 27, tubes 31 and 37 into chamber 38) chamber'40 and tube 41, and the spring 70 swings the trigger valves away from each other through the medium of lever 66 and links 68 and 69 and said trigger valves are brought to their normal position, (the pneumatic balance being established in pneumatics 33 and 34) and the record is brought back into alignment with the tracker board. liile the player is being played the lock pneumatic 85 is collapsed through tubes 86, 48 and 45 and the pawl 87 is maintained out of engagement with ratchet 90, unlocking the pneumatic 33.

Applicants double trigger mechanism maintains the lateral shifting movement of the record within a smaller limit, than is possible with other devices, and provides a centering mechanism of highest accuracy and efiiciency.

When the record has been played and the player set to rewind the record on the spool 7,'the reserve is shut ofi and air enters the lock pneumatic through tube 86 from tube 48 and expands said pneumatic causing pawl 87 to engage ratchet 90 and lock the pneumatic against opening movement and the spool 7 against axial movement, thus preventing tearing of the edges of the record on the rewind. V

The air is exhausted from the pneumatics 33 and 34 through small vents 7 5 and are balanced when the triggers are opened enough to admit atmospheric pressure to the same amount being exhausted. If the trigger valves are opened to a greater extent they will admit more atmospheric pressure than the small vents are exhausting and the opposing springs 63 and 70 will move the pneumatics in the opposite direction or expand them.

Trigger 27 when open admits air direct to pneumatic 33 also to chamber 38 under men brane 54, which lifts valve 51 allowing a direct passage from trigger 28 to pneumatic 34 through chamber 39, port 50, chamber 40 and tube 41.

When trigger 28 is open it will admit air to pneumatic 34, if valve 51 is also open. If valve 51 is not open the trigger 28 has no effect on pneumatic 34, as no air can pass through valve 51 until trigger 27 is open. lVh n this occurs the trigger 28 will balance pneumatic 34. \Vhenever and however the trigger 27 touches the left edge and the trigger 28 touches the right edge, the web will be perfectly centered regardless of swelling and shrinking. The trigger 27 will hold valve 51 open and balance pneumatic 33, holding music spool in perfect alignment.

The edges of the web control the triggers in a central position regardless of width and the triggers control the web in perfect alignment.

The defect of certain centering devices now in use is that when the edge of the record is shrunken the trigger valve does not engage it and the record may shift out of alignment without operating the valve to shift it back into alignment, or when the edge of the record is swollen it engages and opens the valve while the record is in alignment and shifts the record out of alignment.

This defect is overcome by my invention in the operation of the trigger valve 28, which swings the trigger valve 27 outwardly to prevent the swollen edge from opening said valve and shifting the record out of alignment, and swings the trigger 2T inwardly into contact with the shrunken edge of the record 30 that said edge will enthe trigger valve 27 immediately and prevent the record shifting to the left out of alignment.

Having described my invention 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a centering mechanism for a player piano, a pair of pneumatics, a pair of trigger valves for engaging the respective edges of the player record and for controlling the admission of air, respectively into said respective pneumatics, means interposed between said trigger valves whereby one of said trigger valves controls the function of the other valve, means operated by one of said pneumatics for shifting the record in one direction, means for shifting the record in the other direction, means 0perated by the other pneumatic for swinging the trigger valves toward each other into engagement with the edges of the record, means for swinging said trigger valves away from each other to permit centering of the record, and exhaust tubes leading from said pneumatics.

2. In a centering mechanism for a player piano, a pair of pneumatics, a pair of trigger valves for engaging the edges of the record and for controlling said pneumatics, said valves being pivotally mounted, a valve for controlling the function of one of said trigger valves, the other trigger valve controlling said valve, means operated by one of said pneumatics for shifting the record in one direction, means for shifting the record in the other direction, a rod connected to the other pneumatic, a lever connected to said rod, a pair of links connected to said lever and to the respective trigger valves, said trigger valves being swung toward each other by said pneumatic through said rod, lever and links, means for swinging said trigger levers away from each other and exhaust tubes leading from said pneumatics.

3. In a centering mechanism for a player piano, a pair of pneumatics, a pair of trigger valves for engaging the respective edges of the player record and for controlling the admission of air respectively into said respective pneumatics, means interposed between said trigger valves whereby one of said trigger valves controls the function of the other valve,rneans operated by one of said pneumatics for sh fting the record in one direction, means for shifting the recspool against axial movement on the re-' rd in the other direction, means operated.

by the other pneumatic for swinging the trigger valves toward each otherinto engagementwith the edges of the record,

means for swinging said trigger valve'savvay from each other to permit centering of the record, an'exhaust'for each of said pneumatics, and means forylockmg the record Wind. 7 I

4:. In a centering mechanism for player pianos. a 'pneumatic for shifting the record with relation to the tracker bar, means'for engaging one edge of the record 'When shifted out of registration with the tracker bar for admitting air into said pneumatic to operate saidipneumatic to shift the record back into registration with the tracker bar. means for automatically adjusting said edge engaging means into operative relation to the edge of the record atiall times, and

means for automatically locking said pneu-w matic against operation uponrewinding the record. a 5; In a centering mechanism for a player; piano, a pair of valve levers, a pair of trig-V ger valves mounted on said levers for en? gaging the edges of the record, a lever, a pair of rods connected to said lever respectively at opposite sides of its pivot and respectively to said valve levers 'nieans'con- HARRY PIERCE. 

